With just a few days to the end of the year, the Jamaica Agricultural Society (JAS) is describing the year as a good one for the agricultural sector.

Senator Norman Grant, president of the JAS said figures compiled by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) show that the sector grew nine per cent for the third quarter ending September when compared with the same period last year.

This is in addition to the 23 per cent and 30.6 per cent growth recorded in the first and second quarters respectively of the year.

"The year 2006 has been a very good one for our farmers in terms of favourable weather conditions and increased productivity in various parishes," Senator Grant said while addressing an awards luncheon held at the JAS' headquarters downtown Kingston last Thursday.

Unsung heroes

He said "Although plagued by praedial larceny, high input cost, deteriorating farm roads, pests and diseases, the farmers of Jamaica are still the unsung heroes who have persistently given of their best to feed the nation's people."

In the new year the JAS president said food production would be the main priority for the organisation and other agricultural agencies. As "players within the agricultural sector we therefore have to actively engage our farmers in producing for specific outlets, such as supermarkets, shops and the hospitality trade and also on a consistent basis for the World Cup."